Human papillomavirus (HPV) belongs to the family of DNA viruses. Infection by HPV is associated with the development of benign or malignant lesions within mucosal membrane and skin of the genitals, anus, head and neck. Presence of the virus, particularly of the highly oncogenic variants in epithelial cells of uterine cervix directly influences the development of cervical cancer. In a considerable proportion of cases, HPV infections are asymptomatic and this is probably associated with lack of proliferation phase of viral life cycle, or may be transient, which greatly complicates early detection of the virus. Diagnostic techniques enabling diagnosis of HPV infection include: cytological exam (PAP smear), colposcopy, histological study, as well as increasingly sophisticated molecular techniques, enabling detection of viral DNA when other indices of infection are lacking. These techniques include Southern Blot, Dot Blot, in situ hybridization, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Hybrid Capture System I and II (HCI, HCII). Increasingly often authors refer to tests based on isolation of viral mRNA (PreTect HPV-Proofer test). These techniques detect integrated form of HPV, the so-called episomal form of the virus. In general opinion, the presence of HPV in this form is directly associated with progression of lesions developing as a result of this infection. While the PreTect HPV-Proofer test detects a smaller number of cases of HPV infection, its use enables selection of patients most at risk of developing cervical cancer.